it was all an elaborate ruse. [or, what a surprising weekend!]

My first trip to Oregon's coast will be memorable not just because it is beautiful  (it is).

 

And not just because I got to hike in Ecola State Park to the secluded Crescent Beach,  see the weathered wood shingle buildings and lie on the warm sand of Cannon Beach, and eat ice cream and ride the bumper cars in Seaside.

 

 

 

And not just because of all the wine.

It will be most memorable because I didn't see it coming.

I thought that I'd be spending Saturday afternoon at an event for Doug's work.  Turns out, there was no work event - instead, as we were returning from dinner with friends on Friday evening,  he turned to me and said, "So...  we're going to the coast tomorrow."

It took until Sunday for the shock to wear off.  I even had to pinch myself a little as we were soaking up the sun mid-day Saturday, laying directly on the sand because we hadn't thought to bring towels - "is this really happening?  am i really doing this?"

We spent the night in Seaside, and left early Sunday morning for Portland - where we spent a few hours in a long, long line and a few more hours under the hot, hot sun in Waterfront Park, asking ourselves, "is this really happening?  are we really about to be just 60 yards away from him?"

Yep.

 

 

 
 

What a surprising weekend.

p.s. Doug, me, Naomi, Erica, & Joe were just 5 of the 75,000 people on the waterfront that day to hear Senator Obama speak.  Here's some video of the event.

Comments

[lauren]

you forgot to mention that lauren t. was SO HAPPY you got to go the coast but STILL missed(es) you from her bbq that night!!! oh, and is still envious about the obama rally....

the pictures are AWESOME!!!!

[Julie R]

That one picture you have (the second from the top) of I think Crescent Beach - looks like the scene from "Goonies". Is that the same beach?

Sounds like an exciting weekend. How neat to be able to see a possible President. The closest I ever got to someone even remotely like that was to Laura Bush - here in Colorado at an event for Educators.

What a great surprise!

[Leslie]

Love the photos from the Oregon coast and how you listed all the wonderful things about it but that the most wonderful thing about it all was the surprise. :) Good Doug. ;)

[jeanne]

Wow what amazing photos of the coast and how memorable to see and hear Barack in person.